Cutting machine



Sept. 23, 1952 A. A. REMBOLD 2,611,433

CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1?, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Answer H. Esmaqzo Sept. 23, 1952 A. A. REMBOLD CUTTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17', 1947 A.\.. 10 km 3 4 INVENTOR. Inez/2r l7. Ramon/.0

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CUTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

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79 g n M1" W J Q #TTOBNEYJ A. A. REMBOLD CUTTING MACHINE Sept. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 17, 1947 INVENTOR. hat-er ,4 Bengoza BY aw m firrae/vzrf Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING MACHINE Albert A. Rembold, San Francisco, Calif.

Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,457

6 Claims. (Cl. 164-86) This invention relates to a cutting machine, and has for one of its objects the provision of a machine adapted to cut or to groove a stack of cards, or the like, and which machine is relatively small and compact compared with other machines that have the same capacity.

The present machine is particularly suitable for slotting out aligned openings in a stack of cards used for selective sorting. Such cards are shown in Rembold United States Letters Patent No. 2,198,127 of April 23, 1940. Whether the openings in the respective cards are longitudinally aligned along the edge of each card is immaterial, although all such cards have a systematic arrangement of openings which is preferable.

The invention has for another of its objects the provision of a machine for cutting one or more, cards along the edge of such card for removal of a portion of the stack of such card or cards, and which cutting operation is initiated by movement of the card or cards to proper cutting position where the work is completed and the machine is automatically rendered inoperative until a new card or stack of cards is positioned for cutting.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a small, compact, rugged machine adapted for cutting away portions of a stack of cards and which machine includes means for adjusting the same .for most efficiently cutting the cards of diiferent sized stacks of cards from a single card up to a substantial number in a stack.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine having a single shaft between the point where the power is applied and the cutter and which shaft supports clutch means and automatic control means actuatable upon application of said power for effecting a single cutting of one or more cards as desired, according to the number presented to the machine for cutting.

An additional object is the provision of cutting means in a card cutter, or the like, that is adapted to perform an edge cutting operation, such as forming a groove in an edge of a stack of cards, without springing or injuring the cutter means.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the drawings and in the specification.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side-elevational view of the machine, partly in section at the forward end, and with the motor partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the motor removed and the motor'base broken away to reveal the parts below the latter.

Fig. 3 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating the parts on the main shaft 9 and their r lation to each other.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a. portion of the machine that is actuated by certain elements on the main drive shaft and that also in turn, actuates certain of said elements and others. The elements in this view are detached from the machine for clarity.

Fig. 5 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary perspective view of the forward portion of the machine, certain parts being eliminated for clarity.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the cutter in the guideways.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutter.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a slightly different form of cutter than is shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stack of cards to be slotted out.

In detail, the machine comprises a frame I that includes a base 2 for supporting the machine on a desk or table. The frame itself may comprise a plurality of different frame members to facilitate assembly of the different elements of the machine, but these members are all bolted or screwed together to make a stationary frame, and wherever any such element is employed, it will usually be referred to as the frame unless it has a function that requires a more detailed explanation.

Also, hereinafter the use of the words rear. rearwardly, frame, forward, or forwardly will be used with reference to the ends of the machine, the front end being the one where the cutting operation is performed, and whichis adjacent the operator, while the rear end is the opposite end.

Secured on the frame .I is a pair of horizontally aligned bearings 3, G. The bearing 4 is adjacent the rear end of the machine and bearing 3 is spaced forwardly thereof (Fig. 1). I

A portion of the frame 1 extends upwardly between said bearings and supports a motor 5 above the axis of said bearings, which motor carries a pulley 6 on its main drive or armature shaft. Pulley 6 drives a pulley 1 that is integral with a flywheel 8. Pulley l and flywheel 8 are supported for rotation on a main shaft 9 that in turn, is supported at its ends for rotation in bearings 3, 4.

The pulley I has a sleeve Ill (Fig. 3) coaxial and rigid therewith, which sleeve is rotatable on 3 shaft 9 and projects from the pulley toward the front bearing.

The front end of pulley sleeve I8, or the end that faces axially thereof toward the front of the machine, is cut away to form one or more axially projecting dogs I I.

Also on shaft 9 forwardly of the pulley sleeve I is a cam sleeve I2. This cam sleeve I2 is slidable on shaft 9 longitudinally of the latter, but not rotatable with respect to the shaft 9. Said sleeve is secured against rotation on shaft 9 by means of axially extending projections I3 on the forward end of said sleeve I2 that in turn, engage similar rearward extending projections I4 that are rigid with a collar I5. Collar I5 is rigidly secured on shaft 9. I3, I4 and the interdental spaces between them form a spline-like clutch, which is never disengaged, while axial movement of the cam sleeve I2 is permitted.

Rigidly secured to the cam sleeve I2 is a radially outwardly projecting annular cam member I6 formed with a laterally extending projection I! that projects toward the flywheel 8.

On the pulley sleeve I8 (that is rigid with the flywheel) is a cam member I8 having an axially projecting part I9 that faces the cam IS and extends toward the latter. The projection I9 joins a recessed or relieved portion by a generally axially facing inclined surface I9 as indicated in Fig. 3. The projection I'l, I9, when in axial alignment relative to the axis of the shaft 9, space the cams I8, I8 their maximum distance apart, and when the said projections are relatively offset circumferentially of the cams the latter are adapted to be moved toward each other. The cam I8 is movable on the sleeve I8 axially of the latter, as well as circumferentially. As will later be explained more in detail, the cam I8 is rotatable t any desired adjusted position of the projection I9 around the syleeve III and is adapted to be held in its adjusted position.

Between collar I5 that is rigid on shaft 9 and the cam I6 is a coil spring 28 that is coaxial with shaft 9, and which spring tends to constantly urge the cam I8 toward the cam I8.

Upon movement of the plate 22 (Fig. 4) in a direction for moving cam 23 to a position between frame member 2I and cam I8, the latter will be moved toward cam I8 and the projections I1, I 9' respectively, on cams I6, I8 will be in intercepting relationship in their annular paths of travel which will result in cam I6 being moved in direction away from sleeve ID. This movement will result in disengaging the dog II on sleeve ID from a similar axially projecting dog 25 on cam-sleeve I2 whereby the flywheel and sleeve I8 will rotate freely, but cam-sleeve I2 and shaft 9 will be stationary. The distance the cam I8 is adapted to be moved axially toward cam I6 is such that there will be a frictional binding between projections I1, I9 substantially at the outermost axially facing surfaces of said projections when the cam I6 is backed away from cam I8 by the cam action of said projections. This binding will he sufficient to instantly stop rotation of cam I6 and shaft 9 when the dogs II, 25 are disengaged. Thus, the projections I1, I9 cooperate to form a brake on shaft 9 as well as to engage and disengage the dogs II, 25.

When the cam 23 is moved laterally to release cam I8 for axial movement in direction away from cam I6, thereby releasing the braking action of projections Il', I9, the cam IE will be These coacting projections free to follow cam I8 under the expansion of spring 2 8 until dogs II, 25 are engaged and then a rotation of shaft 9 will be effected until cam 23 is again interposed to between the frame 2I and cam I8 for moving cam I6 and sleeve I2 in a direction away from cam I8 for disengaging dogs II, 25.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the position of projection I9 on cam I8 circumferentially around shaft 9 determines the point in the revolution of cam I6 where shaft 9 will be stopped.

On collar I5 is a radially projecting arm 26 that is adapted to engage the rearwardly facing inclined surface 21 of a horizontally extending lever 28 (Figs. 2, 3, 5). Lever 28 is pivoted at one end to part of the stationary frame I of the machine and the movement of arm 26 along surface 21 will cause the end of lever 28 opposite its pivoted end to move a rod 29 axially of the latter through the engagement of said end with a rubber collar 38 held stationary on said rod by a stationary collar 3|. Collar 3I is adjustable on said shaft axially thereof, but is rigid with theshaft when adjusted.

One end of rod 29 slidably and oscillatably extends through a horizontally extending slot 48 (Fig. 4) in a stationary guide member M and terminates at said end at a point between pulley l and said guide member, the latter being rigidly secured to the frame of the machine.

The end portion of rod 29 adjacent said pulley extends relatively loosely through an opening 42 in a horizontally extending link 43. The other end of link 43 is pivotally connected at 44 to a downward projection that is rigid with plate 22 (Fig. 4).

The opposite end of rod 29 is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontally extending link 45 (Fig. 5). The opposite end of link 45 is pivotally connected at 48 to the frame of the machine.

Pivot 41 connects rod 29 with link 45, and a tension coil spring 48 connects between the pivot 41 and a projection 49 on one end of an upper lever arm 58 that extends over link 45 and generally longitudinally of the latter. This lever arm 58 is pivoted at 5I to the frame of the machine, said pivot being adjacent pivot 41, but offset to a point outwardly of the end of link 45 nearest said pivot. The pivot 48 is adjacent the end of lever with which one end of spring 48 is connected.

Spring 48 and its arrangement, as described, is such that the same will yieldably hold link 45 swung to a position at one side or the other of a line extending between pivots 46, 5I, and which spring will also swing said link across said line upon swinging said lever 50 in one direction or the other.

When lever 50 is swung in one direction the rod 29 will be moved longitudinally thereof toward pulley 1 until its outer end adjacent said pulley will be interposed in the circular path of a cam 60 (Fig. 3) on pulley I, said cam being on the axially facing side of the pulley that faces generally toward rod 29. In this position the cam surface SI of cam will engage the end of rod 29 causing the latter to swing about its pivot 41 in a direction generally away from shaft 9 whereby the plate 22 will be moved horizontally to draw cam 23 thereon out of its position between cam I8 and frame member 2!. This will permit dogs II, 25 to engage, thus effecting a rotation of shaft 9.

Movement of plate 22 in the opposite direction to move cam 23 between frame 2| and cam I8 is effected by engagement of a radially outwardly projecting pin 62 (Figs. 2, 3) on cam member l6 and a plate 63 (Figs. 2, 4) that extends perpendicularly relative to plate 22 and that is rigidly secured to the latter.

From the above, it will be seen that if the end of rod 29 were not in the path of travel of cam 69 so as to be engaged by the latter, the slide 22 would remain in a position with cam 23 preventing driving engagement between dogs I l, 25.

The withdrawal of said rod 29 so its end will be out of the path of'travel of cam 60 is effected by the action of arm 26 (Figs. 2, 3) on the cam surface 21 of lever 28 upon each revolution of shaft 9 (Figs. 2, 5).

At the end of shaft 9 opposite flywheel 8 is a crank 65 (Figs. 2, 3). Crank pin 66 on said crank pivotally connects one end of a connecting rod 61 with the upper end of a, vertically reciprocable cutter 68. A laterally projecting pivot pin 69 on said upper end of the cutter pivotally connects the cutter with the connecting rod. Upon each full revolution of shaft 9 the cutter will be reciprocated through a complete stroke from an initial starting position back to said position.

Cutter 68 is vertically elongated and is adapted to be slidably supported for its full length between rigid (but adjustable) guideways 10 that are held in a vertically extending rigid bearing frame H rigid with frame I.

The lower edges of cutter 68 (Fig. 7) are sharpened at 69' and these sharpened edges slidably reciprocate past a stationary shear plate 12 carried on frame H and having a contour corresponding to the linear contour of the cutting edges of the cutter.

For slotting out cards, the shear plate has edges adjacent cutter 68 that form a generally 'V-shape, and the cutting edges of the cutter 68 are similarly formed so that a card extending across the side of the V opening in the shear plate will have a. generally V-shaped outwardly opening recess cut in the edge where it so extends across the path of the cutter.

A vertically extending pin 14 (Figs. 5, 6) extends normally upwardly through the V opening in the shear plate 12 at the apex of the said opening when the cutter 68 is elevated. The

lower end of pin 14 is pivotally secured at I5 to the lower end of a vertically reciprocable rod 16, the upper end of which rod is slidably held in a stationary guide 'l'l for engagement of its upper end by the descending cutter die 68 at a point spaced from the cutting edges of said die or cutter.

A tension spring 18 connects between the laterally projecting lower end 19 on rod 14 and the guide 11. Thus, the upper end of the pin 14 is yieldably swung to a position in the apex of the 'V-shaped edges of the shear plate under the tension of spring 18 and also said spring yieldably holds the upper end of rod 16 against the cutter 68 during a predetermined distance through the stroke of the cutter.

The pin 14 slidably extends through one end of a strap 80 that in turn, slidably extends across the lever 50. The opposite end of strap 80 has a downwardly extending lip 8| through which an adjusting screw 82 extends for engagement with a lip 83 on lever 50. Lips 8|, 83 are in opposed relation. Thus, the screw 82 will space the said lips a predetermined distance apart during swinging of the pin 14.

In actual practice, the operator takes a stack.-

' of cards 84 similar to those shown in my aforesaid patent or as shown in Fig. 9, and which card has the marginal openings in alignment through the stack. Assuming that the operator wishes to slot outaligned openings 85, the stack will'beplaced over the shear plate 12 with pin 14 extending through aligned openings 85. Then the stack will be moved rearwardly or against the vertical side 86 of the main stationary-standard or frame II in which the cutter 68 is supported. This rearward movement of the stack will swing pin 14 rearwardly at its upper end, and will pull the stra 80 with it, which strap in turn, will swing the lever 50, thereby swinging link across center. The link 45 connects with rod 29, so the aforesaid swinging of the link 45 will result in the rear end of rod 29 moving into the path of cam 69 on the'pulley I. The engagement between cam and the outer end of rod 29 will swing the rod 29 on its pivot 41 and will, at the same time, cause the plate 22 that carries cam 23 to slide horizontallyfor withdrawing the cam from between frame member 2| and cam 18, thereby permitting the cam l6 and the sleeve l2, including the dogs 25 on said sleeve, to move axially on shaft 9 for engagement between dogs H, 25 whereby shaft 9 will make a revolution and will reciprocate cutter 68 throughthe margins of the cards in said stack for slotting out openings 85 in the latter.

After said slotting operation the pin 62 on cam IE will engage the plate 63 that is connected with the plate 22 and will move the cam 23 under the power of the motor back to position between the frame 2! and cam I 8 for disengaging the dogs I I, 25 and also the arm 26 on collar l5 will engage lever 28 for moving the rod 29 out of the path of the cam 60. The machine will then be ready for another operation.

It is to be noted that no interference occurs between pin I4 and the cutter, inasmuch as the pin is progressively withdrawn downwardly out of the openings 85 in the stack through engagement between rod 16 and the cutter element as the cutting edges of said cutter slot outthe cards. The cut out sections of the cards readily fall from the cutter and shear plate as they are cut away from the cards. A groove is formed in the side of the stack to the openings 85. r

The bearing plates 10 are adjustable toward and away from the cutter by adjusting screws 86' that extend through the frame H so as to enable obtaining a perfect adjustment of the cutter relative to the shear plate and to enable taking up of any wear.. These bearing plates fully support the cutter during its stroke, thereby making it-possible for the cutter to slot out the cards of a stack that would normally require a much larger machine. I

The cutter itself is an elongated block of steel, the upper end of which is relatively solid and to which the pin 69 is secured.

Along two opposite lateral sides of the cutter it is slight recessed between the longitudinally extending edges, thus providing spaced longitudinally extending lands 8'! (Fig. 7) along said sides. I

The forward side of the cutter also has a pair of coplanar flat marginal portions extending longitudinally thereof along opposite outwardly extending wings 88 that are at opposite sides of a central V-shaped ridge (in cross-sectional contour) that extends the full length of the cutter element. The wings 88 also extend the full length of the element .and the guideways in the frame portionv H extend past the cutting edge of the shear plate. Only the V-shaped portion is sharpened at its lower, end and this portion is bevelledfrom the rear side of the cutter to provide chisel type cutting edge or edges with the flat side adapted to face the shear plate upon movement of said edge past the shear plate. The bevelled side is opposite the fiat side.

A removable retainer plate 89 secured on the rear side of the bearing frame 7| securely holds the cutter in said frame and in the guideways that are complementary in contour to the crosssectional contour of the cutting element. The upper end portion 90 of frame H is enlarged and completely extends around the forward side'of the cutter (Fig.

By the foregoing structure the cutter cannot become sprung out of shape through heavy-duty cutting for the reason that it is rigidly held closely adjacent the cutting edges through its entire cutting stroke. This is very important'inasmuch as the provision of a relatively small cutting machine adapted to be placedona table for office use, but which has the capacity of a very large and bulky machine, is one of the objects and advantages of the invention, and substantially the above described manner of holding the cutter is one of the main structural features that enables said result.

As has already been pointed out, the position of the projection IS on cam I8 determines where the crank Gland cutter 68 will be stopped after each revolution, inasmuch as this projection cooperates with projection I! on cam 16 to form the brake that stops the shafts 9. The point at which the pin 14 rises above the level of the shear plate 12 is determined by the position of the cutter. If the cam I8 is set so that the crank pin 66 is at the uppermost end of its movement, then the link 61 and cutter 68 will be at the maximum uppermost ends of their movements and likewise the pin 14 will be at its maximum height. However, assume that the cam i8 is rotated so that it will stop the crank 66 in a generally horizontally extending position in the downward revolution of the crank, then the cutter will be at a lower elevation and also the pin 14. In fact, by revolving cam 18 to different positions, the cutter and pin 14 can be stopped at any desired elevation, which result is desirable for the following reason.

The maximum elevation of pin 14 is desirable where a maximum sized stack of cards, or one that is fairly thick, is to be slotted out. However, there are times when the operator may only be slotting out single cards or a relatively small stack at each operation. In such a case, the long projecting end of pin 14 slows up the operation of positioning the card or cards.

Provision for quickly adjusting the cam 18 so that it can be quickly rotated and secured at any desired degree of rotation is made, and one structure for accomplishing this is a flexible cable 9|, or other suitable flexible line, that extends over the cam l8 and over a pulley 92 on a shaft 93. Shaft 93 is rotatably supported in bearings on the frame of the machine and has a lever 94 and quadrant 95 at the rear side of the machine. The lever 94 can be swung on the quadrant to any desired and marked position and is releasably held in said position by conventional means (not shown) whereby a quick adiustmentof cam I8 is accomplished.

In Fig. 8 a modified form of cutter 96 is shown in which the cutting edges 91 are parallel instead ofcoming'to a point or divergent. Otherwise the cutter is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. '7.

The lever 50 has an extension 99 at the outer end extending away from pivot 5| whereby the operator may manually cause the lever to be swung across a line extending between pivots 46, 5| whereby the cutter may be reciprocated without swinging the pin 14, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a cutting machine having a stationary shear plate and a cutter element having a cutting edge adapted to slot out one of the marginal perforations in a marginally perforated selective sorting card to the edge of the card nearest said perforation upon reciprocation of said cutting edge past said shear plate when said cutter is reciprocated, means supporting said element for said reciprocation, power means for so reciprocating said element, card positioning means for positioning such sorting card in a position for so slotting out a desired perforation in its margin including a member adapted to extend through said desired perforation and movable with said card from a point out of said position to said position, movable means for connecting said power means with said cutter element upon a predetermined movement of said movable means. and means connecting said member with said power means and with said movable means for causing said predetermined movement upon movement of said card tosaid position.

2. In a cutting machine having a stationary shear plate and a cutter element having a cutting edge adapted to slot out one of the marginal perforations in a marginally perforated selective sorting card to the edge of the card nearest said perforation upon reciprocation of said cutting edge past said shear plate when said cutter is reciprocated, means supporting said element for said reciprocation, power means for so reciprocating said element, card positioning means for positioning such sorting card in a position for so slotting out a desired perforation in its margin including a member adapted to extend through said desired perforation and movable with said card from a point out of said position to said position, movable means for connecting said power means with said cutter element upon a predetermined movement of said movable means, means connecting said member with said power means and with said movable means for causing said predetermined movement upon movement of said card to said position, means connected with said power means and automatically actuated for movement thereby for moving said movable means to a position disconnecting said power means from said cutter element after each complete reciprocation of said cutter element.

3. In a cutting machine of the character described having a stationary shear plate and a cutter element supported for reciprocable movement in shearing relation to said shear plate card positioning means for positioning a stack of cards in cutting position, power transfer means includin a main drive shaft connected at one end with said element for reciprocating the latter upon rotation of said shaft and further including a first clutch element and a second clutch member respectively secured to saidshaft and rotatable thereon and movable axially on said shaft relatively for movement into and out of driving engagement with each other, means for connecting said second clutch member with a source of power for continuous rotation by such source, means for yieldably urging said first clutch member toward said second clutch member for driving engagement between them, holding means for holding said first clutch member out of said driving relation with said second clutch member at a predetermined point in the revolution of said first clutch member, and means actuated by said positioning means for connecting said holding means with said power means for releasing said holding means from position holding said first clutch member out of driving relation with said second clutch member whereby the first mentioned clutch member will move into said drivin relationship.

4. In a cutting machine of the character described having a stationary shear plate and a cutter element supported for reciprocable movement in shearing relation to said shear plate card positioning means for positioning a stack of cards in cutting position, power transfer means including a main drive shaft connected at one end with said element for reciprocating the latter upon rotation of said shaft and further including a first clutch element and a second clutch member respectively secured to said shaft and rotatable thereon and movable axially on said shaft relatively for movement into and out of driving engagement with each other, means for connecting said second clutch member with a source of power for continuous rotation by such source, means for yieldably urging said first clutch member toward said second clutch member for driving engagement between them, holding means for holding said first clutch member out of said driving relation with said second clutch member at a predetermined point in the revolution of said first clutch member, and means actuated by said positioning means for connecting said holding means with said power means for releasing said holding means from position holding said first clutch member out of driving relation with said second clutch member whereby the first mentioned clutch member will move into said driving relationship, and means for adjusting said holding means to difierent points around the axis of said shaft for effecting a holding of said first clutch member at any one of said different points as desired.

5. In a cutting machine of the character described having a power actuated cutter adapted to slot out one of the marginally punched openings formed in a selective sorting card; card positioning and cutter actuating means comprising an upwardly directed element adapted to extend 10 upwardly through any one of said openings in said card, said cutter being adjacent said element, means supporting said element for movement toward said cutter through engagement with the edge of said opening when said element extends through the latter and upon movement of said card toward said cutter, means actuated by movement of said element toward said cutter for causing actuation of said cutter at a predetermined point in said movement and when the marginal portion of said card between said opening and the edge of the card adjacent thereto is positioned for slotting out said last mentioned portion by said cutter.

6. In a cutting machine of the character described having a power actuated cutter adapted to slot out a marginally punched opening formed in a selective sorting card; an element adapted to extend through said opening, means supporting said element for movement toward said cutter together with said card upon movement of said card toward said cutter with the edge adjacent said opening leading when said element is in said opening, means for supporting said card for said movement to a position in which the marginal portion of said card between said opening and said edge will be slotted out upon actuation of said cutter, and means actuated by movement of said element with said card at a predetermined point in the travel of said element for causing said actuation of said cutter.

ALBERT A. REMBOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bray Feb. 29, 1944 

